US troops on anti-Ebola mission under observation in Italy

Washington, Oct 28 (IANS/EFE) A group of US soldiers on a mission in Liberia to fight Ebola are currently under preventive observation at the military base in Vicenza, Italy, military officials said.

US Gen. Darryl Williams, head of Operation United Assistance against Ebola, and about ten soldiers have been placed in "controlled monitoring" after finishing their mission in Liberia this weekend, they said.

The soldiers will be under observation for 21 days in a "separate location" within the base and will have their temperatures taken twice a day, the officials said, preferring not to use the term "quarantine" but rather "controlled observation", Xinhua reported.

For now there is no indication that any of the soldiers have Ebola symptoms, though the reason for this decision was not explained.

The current Defence Department policy for monitoring troops returning from Africa is that "as long as individuals remain asymptomatic, they may return to work and routine daily activities with family members", the officials said on the CNN network.